Tufting implement



Nov. 11, 1952 A. e. GARVIN TUF'TING IMPLEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 26, 1946 E a" T INVIIZNTOR) A. G. GARVJN TUFTING IMPLEMENT Nov. 11,1952 5 Sheets-Sheet; 2

Filed Dec. 26. 1946 Nov. 11, 1952 A. G. GARVIN 2,617,373

TUFTING IMPLEMENT I Filed Dec. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1: 2-111 5 /9ENE-1E fl] Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUFTINGIMPLEMENT Alfred G. Garvin, Framingham, Mass.

Application December 26, 1946, Serial No. 718,531

6 Claims. (01. 112-80) This invention relates to improvements in the artof producing hooked rugs, pertaining more particularly to the meansemployed in such production.

Hooked rugs as now generally produced are fashioned upon and with afabric backing, through which a suitable yarn is passed by an implementof a particular type, the implement carrying the yarn beyond the face ofthe fabric sufficient to provide an extended loop formation beyond thebacking, this being repeated along the lines of a pattern generallycarried by the backing, each of the loops being formed separately, theyarn being carried from one loop point to the next on the opposite sideof the backing. The loop formation may be left in loop form, or may becut at its closed end, so that, in the latter case, the two loop pliesbecome individual.

In such practice, the fabric backing is generally in the form of burlap,Hessian or any other loosely Woven material-loosely woven as comparedwith the usual Woven materials, such as cotton fabric, for instance. Thefabric used, however, while relatively loose in weave is not formed withopenings of sumcient dimensions as to permit the ready passage of theyarn loop, with the result that the implement used in producing the rugmust include an element adapted to provide an opening of sufficientdimensions to receive the loop of yarn when carried by the implementthrough the fabric backing, the awl first contacting the fabric andpreparing the opening through which the loop is to be passed. Since thewarp and weft threads of the fabric are woven with a view to at leastapproximately retain their positions within the burlap fabric, thepassage of the awl to producean opening of sufficient extent necessarilyaffects the normal woven appearance and necessarily tends to spread thethreads in the production of the opening. Hence, it can be readilyunderstood that in following this practice, there is a tendency todisturb the normal characteristics of the fabric to an extent whichcauses a material weakening of the fabric itself, a condition which willnecessarily decrease the life of the rug, especially since this effectis perpetuated by the fact that the opening thus produced must receivethe dual plies of the loop as a permanent portion of the structure. sothat the stretching action of the awl is not a temporary condition but,in a reduced form, remains as a permanent part of the rug fabric.

In other words, under prior practice, the operationis such as to tend toweaken the fabric portion of the rug, due to the fact that anyinterstices effect that is present in the normal woven fabric must beinevitably varied from such normal condition by and during production ofthe rug with the variations maximum at the time the loops are beinginserted, with the variation partially maintained by the presence of theplies of the loop so that the woven fabric no longer has the normalcharacteristics. And since the normal interstices are small, thepractice of marking the fabric with the design to be produced ispractically a necessity, since any attempt to utilize the fabric withoutsuch patterned design leaves the operation as of such haphazard type asto provide for a badly formed rug, due to the presence of undesiredvariations in the loop formation. In the practice above outlined, theburlap backing activity is practically limited to providing the base forthe yarn support in the production of the rug-any pattern effect islimited to the design which is stamped thereon and which is not, ofcourse, related to the locations of the interstices which may be presentthrough the loose weaving that is present with burlap and the like;hence, when the awl is introduced, there is no certainty that it may notpass through the thread structure itself, thus further weakening thefabric.

In other words, the implement used in such practice pratically'providesall of the activities during the production of the rug. The awl mustpenetrate the fabric in advance of the passing of the yarn looptherethrough, in order to provide an opening of suificient dimensions toenable the ready passage of the loop therethrough; and since thepositioning of the awl disturbs the normal thread positions about theopening, and the awl remains in its inserted position during the passageof the loop through the opening and during the return of the yarn loopcarrying member of the implement, after which the awl is withdrawn, thedisturbed condition remains until the awl is withdrawn, after which theloop plies prevent return of the burlap threads to initial or wovenpositions.

As a result, the initial penetration by the awl is a matter of judgmentby the operator as to location, and while the succeeding passage of theloop is within the awl itself, the rug product must therefore mainlydepend for its appearance, upon the accuracy with which the operatorplaces the successive loops and without any real physical means open tohim for determining the actual spacing of successive loops. As a result,the final appearance becomes dependent upon the skill of the operator inspacing the loops, both as to aline- 3 ment as well as to variation froma straight line effect, thus making the product more or less haphazardas to appearance.

As with the above practice, the present invention utilizes a fabricbacking and an implement for applying the yarn thereto in loop form.However, unlike such prior practice, the fabric backing cooperates withthe implement in the production of a rug throughout the period of rugproduction, the backing ending this cooperation only when the last loophas been positioned and thereafter retains only the function of formingthe loop-supporting backing of the rug. During the production period,the backing has the dual function of providing the loop support for allof the formed loops and cooperating with the implement in connectionwith the unlooped portion or portions of the fabric. Hence, at the startof the operation, the fabric backing is wholly cooperative with theimplement, the rug backing function developing only with the completionof each loop.

This condition is brought about by the form of the fabric, the latterbeing especially woven for the purpose, with the weaving designed toproduce a plurality of openings alined longitudinally and laterally, insuch manner that the fabric takes on the appearance of a very coarsemesh. For instance, in one form, the openings number thirty-six to thesquare inch-presenting six longitudinally and six laterally-the contourof the opening being approximately square; in practice, the number oneach side of a square inch may range from six to eight, the result beingthat each opening has its side dimension slightly less than one-sixth toone-eighth of an inch in length, the weaving providing a comparativelythin division between adjacent openings.

From this it will be understood that the openings are pro-formed anddefinitely positioned relative to each other. As a result, thearrangement and dimensions are such that the operator readily fashionshis own design, the meshed condition of the fabric being such as topractically prevent the use of a stamped design. In addition, thedivision wall between openings serves as a definite guide for theintroduction of the loop-carrying member of the implement, thus assuringaccurate positioning of the loops relative to each other. In addition tothe above, it is apparent that should the loop-carrying member be of aslightly greater length than the length of a side of the opening, thecomparatively large dimension opening will permit compensation for anyslight stretching that may be present by temporarily reducing thecorresponding lateral dimension of the opening, the temporary changefrom the normal pertaining simply to the wall of a single opening, andthis change being present only momentarily, with the opening resumingits normal dimensions without delay, so that the product will presentits loops accurately alined longitudinally and transversely of the rug.

As is apparent, the fact that the fabric backing itself provides thespace to receive the yarn loop, the implement used for the loopingoperation need not carry an awl formation. As a result, the implementcan be greatly simplified and such is the case in the present invention,in which the assemblage is so arranged as to provide for a simple, butefficient, structure of comparatively small dimensions and capable ofproducing, in co-relation with the fabric backing, a hooked rug in whichthe applied yarns are not only positioned with uniformity and undercontrollable conditions, but provides such action in a manner to producecomplete uniformity in loop lengths as well as in loop positioning, sothat the product, although provided by a hand operation, presents all ofthe characteristics that are to be expected through the use of elaboratemachine operations, producing this result more rapidly than where theusual forms of hand implements are employed.

In addition, the rug produced is generally of greater wearing qualities,due to the fact that the fabric backing is not impaired in any wayduring the looping operation, so that although the fabric is completelyhidden by the loops, it preserves all of the wearing qualities placedtherein at the time of fabric formation and hence retains theserviceable qualities which the initial fabric was designed to produce.Consequently, the hooked rug formation produced is of a superior typeand of maximum wearing possibilities.

To these and other ends, therefore, the nature of which will be betterunderstood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said inventionconsists in the improved constructions and combinations of parts moreparticularly described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference charactersindicate similar parts in each of the views:

Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a section of the fabric backing usedin the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a diagrammatic plan view showing a possiblearrangement for the rug pattern;

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective detail showing loops applied to thefabric backing;

Figure 4 illustrates a plan view of the implement used in providing theloops, the parts being shown in the position occupied by the needle whenthe latter has been advanced to its greatest extent in forming a loop;

Figure 5 illustrates a side elevation of the implement partly in crosssection and partly broken away;

Figure 6 illustrates a longitudinal section of the implement, the planeof the section being horizontal in connection with the showing of Fig.5;

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are cross sectional views taken on lines 1-7, 88,9e41, and Iii-i0, of Fig. 6;

Figure 11 illustrates a side elevation of a bushing element for theneedle end of the implement;

Figure 12 illustrates an end view of the same;

Figure 13 illustrates a longitudinal section of the same taken on line13-4 3 of Fig. 11;

Figure 14 illustrates a cross section taken on line [4-14 of Fig. 11;

Figure 15 illustrates a cross section taken on line l5-l 5 of Fig. 13;

Figure 16 illustrates a plan view of the needle;

Figure 1'7 illustrates an end elevation of the same;

Figure 18 illustrates a plan view of the presser foot;

Figures 19 and 20 illustrate sectional views taken on lines 19-49 and2020 of Fig. 18;

Figure 21 illustrates a side elevation of the yarn guide;

Figure 22 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the same taken online 22-22 of Fig. 25;

Figure 23 illustrates a bottom plan view of the guide;

Figure 24 illustrates a longitudinal section taken on line 2424 of Fig.22;

Figure 25 illustrates an end elevation of the guide; and

Figure 26 illustrates a sectional view taken on line 26-26 of Fig. 22.

The fabric backing element of the invention is a specially preparedstructure, preferably woven, being designed especially for the presentservice. In its production, the weft thread is heavier than the threadsused for the warp, the warp threads being designed to operate in pairswith a semi-twisted condition produced during the weaving, with the pairof twisted threads practically equalling the size of the weft thread.The warp pairs of threads are spaced a distance sufficient to providethe length of a side of the square being formed, and the loom isarranged so as to advance the fabric sufilcient to position succeedinweft threads the desired distance of the adjacent side of the opening.While the number of spaces per square inch may be varied, the backing ispreferably so woven as to provide six spaces to the inch, making a totalspace count of thirty-six to the square inch. However, the number perlinear inch may be increased to seven or eight, if desired, the smalleropenings being used where the yarn is of a finer type. Since the weftthread and the pairs of warp threads provide a comparatively small walltexture, such threads do not materially reduce the dimensions of eachopening, and due to the woven character of the fabric, the contours ofsuch walls are generally of a square type, any variation in openingdimensions being due to the normal conditions which are present inproducing meshed fabrics generally. A fabric of this type is shown at Ain the drawings, with the wall threads (warp and weft) indicated at aand the openings at a.

The implement used in providing the yarn looping operation is shown indetail in Figs. 4 to 26, and which may be considered as a yarn loo-peror as a yarn looping needle, and is made up of a number of fabricatedparts which, in the operation of the assembly in providing a loop,presents an operation such as to produce the loop efficiently,accurately and with a minimum of time required, effects produced throughthe cooperation of the looper with the specific type of fabric backingabove described.

The looper generally comprises a tubular body [5 of circular contour andof a predetermined length, and which provides a support for the partsassembled as now described. Within the body and having a press fittherein, is a tubular guide l6 of less length than the body l5, saidguide being provided with an internal rib [6a, extending lengthwise fromend to end of the guide, and which may be formed in any suitable manner.

The outer end of the body carries a bushing I1, the latter beingprovided with a reduced extension Ila which fits within and closes theouter end of the body with the exception of an axial perforation llbwhich extends through the bushing, thus closing this end of the body.

The opposite end of the body is closed by a bushing element l8 havingthe reduced portion 18a and axial opening 181), this portion of thebushing being similar to that of bushing l1 and being designed to closethe lower end of the body. The two bushings practically preventlongitudinal movement of the guide I6. In addition, bushing l8 carries apair of arms H! extending forwardly of the bushing from diametricallyopposite sides of the peripheral zone of the bushing, said arms beingadapted to combinedly form a bracket for parts, presently referred to;these arms will be further described in connection with their relationto such other parts.

Located within guide I6 and movable longitudinally therein is a piston20 having a working fit with the interior of the guide l6, piston 20carrying an external longitudinal depression 20a which is designed tocooperate with the rib lfia of guide It, the rib and depression beingdesigned to prevent rotation of the piston on its axis while permittinglongitudinal movement of the piston within the guide. The piston isprovided with an axial opening 201), the opposit end zones of which arethreaded, as at 200, these providing for connection with the piston ofan operating handle connected with one end of the piston, and a loopingneedle which is connected with the opposite end of the piston, thearrangement being such that reciprocating movement of the handle willprovide similar movement to the needle, with the extent of movementlimited to the size of the lost motion relation between the pistonlength and the spacing distance of the inner faces of bushings I1 andIS.

The handle portion and its connecting rod, the piston 20, and theneedle, provide a reciprocating plunger formation in which the stroke ofreciprocation is limited by the contact of the respective and faces ofpiston 20 with the inner end faces of bushings I! and I8, thus providinga definite stroke length of the piston 20 by movements of the handle,with a stroke length of similar extent for the needle.

The handle section is in the form of a rod 2! having its opposite endsthreaded, one end being threaded into a threaded Zone 200 of the pistonwith the opposite end threaded into a handle 22.

The needle, indicated generally at 23, is of suitable length with itsinne end arranged for threaded engagement with the opposite threadedopening 200 of the piston. The length of the shank or stem 23a of theneedle is such as to locate the looping free end thereof properlyrelated to other parts of the assembly when piston 20 is at the extremesof its stroke. Such looping end zone, indicated at 23b extends from theend of the stem portion 23a with somewhat of a flaring appearance of itsopposite sides to thereby provide the actual end of the zone as ofconsiderably increased widthin practice, such actual end isapproximately double the diameter of the stem; at the actual end, thethickness of the needle is small (approximately one-thirty-sec" 0ndinch), with the ends of the flared sides rounded off so as to produce anintermediate zone of such end as of less diameter than a more remotewidth of such end zone, such intermediate section being formed with acurved recess 230. Such end zone may be of uniform thickness from itspoint of connection with the stem, or may be of a gradually increasingthickness toward such point of connection. The concave end thus producedis designed to receive and position the yarn during the loopingoperation. As will be understood, the width of such end is such as toapproach the length of a side of one of the openings it, especiallywhere the length of a side of the opening is of the larger size;normally such end zone of the needle does not materially expand the sizeof opening a, but is sufiiciently close to the opening dimensions as tobe more or less guided by opposite walls of the opening; should theopening be small, the needle end can be in- '7 sorted on a diagonal ofthe opening, in which case any excess width of the needle end beyond thelength of such diagonal would simply cause the opening to be temporarilychanged in contour to accommodate for such excess width.

Th needle operates relative to an assemblage of elements which include apresser foot, and a yarn carrier guide, the presser foot being designedto be brought into contact with the face of the fabric backing-thelatter being supported in the usual manner so as to provide a more orless unyielding face, this result being generally provided by the use ofa frame to which the fabric backing is temporarily secured-thuspositioning the implement and its needle relative to the particularopening a into which the loop is to be carried, the operator holding theimplement firmly against the backing so as to locate the presser footrelative to the particular opening and to maintain the implement in suchposition during the successive needle strokes which form the cycle forproducing the loop. The yarn guide is designed to bring the yarn to theproper point where the concave face of the needle can engage the yarnstrand and carry it through opening a to the desired extent.

To support these elements, bushing l8 carries the arms 19 projectingforwardly from the bushing and located at diametrically opposite pointsof such bushing, the arms being spaced apart a distance sufilcient topermit of the location of parts between them, and being of a lengthsufficient to provide for efficient support for the parts. Each arm isprovided on its outer face with a groove lea. extending longitudinallyof the arm and symmetrical to the diameter relative to which the twoarms are located, the groove extending throughout the length of the arm;each arm is also provided with an opening I912 positioned intermediatethe ends of the arm and at a point closer to the bushing face than tothe free end of such arm. The two grooves l9a are designed to receivethe presser foot structure now to be described:

The presser foot 24 is preferably formed of wire, such as piano wire,being bent into a more or less specific shape, the latter generallypresenting two spaced apart flights 240. which are joined together atone end by a semi-loop formation 242), the loop bottom being preferablybent inward to a slight extent so that such semi-loop portion can bereadily shifted relative to the fabric backing similar to the usualpresser foot structures. Each flight includes a rear zone 24c spacedwider than the body of the flight, said portions 240 being adapted to bepositioned in the grooves [9a, the free ends of such portions being bentinward as at 24d to form a pin structure designed to enter into andthrough openings 1912. As is apparent, the presser foot projected lengthis such that when the portion 24b is in contact with the face of thefabric backing, the remainder of the stroke of the needle will besufficient to carry the yarn loop through opening a and the desireddistance therebeyond which represents the projected loop length, itbeing understood that the axis of the needle travels in a plane whichapproximates the plane of arms 24a of the presser foot, the stem of theneedle being located in the axis of the bushing; hence, the semi-loopend 24b project-s laterally of such plane and thus aids in permittingproper location of the needle end relative to the particular opening a.

The inturned ends 2411 of the presser foot .24 are'adapted to be locatedwithin and extend through openings [9b, the length of such ends beingsufficient to provide a support for atension spring 25, presentlydescribed in detail, and which includes a pair of coiled portions 25aspaced from but adjacent to the free ends of the spring, the ends 2401extending into the coiled zone and thus providing a support for thespring, each end 24d carrying an individual coil. Such coils, in turn,are adapted to pivotally support pintles 26a of a yarn carrier guide 26,thus mounting the guide and spring externally of the path of travel ofthe needle.

Guide 28 is in the form of a U-shaped elongated element with the pintleslocated in the rear zone of the guide and projecting outwardly from thesides thereof, the pintless being spaced from the rear end of the guide,being located approximately on the plane of the open top of the body ofthe guide. When in position, the sides of the guide overlie the needlepath, the guide having an inner Width suificient to permit the end 230of the needle to pass thereinto for a desired distance. In practice,guide 26 forms a channel into which the yarn from the supply is passedand from which it emerges through the forward open end of the guide,thus providing the yarn supply for the needle activity, as presentlydescribed in detail.

Spring 25 is designed to provide a yielding support for the guide, thespring being generally U-shaped, in plan, the length of the U-shapedportion extending from the inner coils of the coiled portions 25a, theclosed end zone of the U-shaped portion being preferably bent at a smallangle to the sides of the U-shaped portion. Beyond the coil portion, theend zone 25b preferably engages with a part of the fixed structure insuch way as to place the coil sections under a slight tension when thespring is in operative position. In practice, the u-shaped portion ofthe spring lies outside of the guide 25 with the closed end of thespring overlying the bottom of the guide, thus placing the guide underthe tension of the spring and assuring the proper location of the guiderelative to the needle travel path.

Since the guide 26 is pivotally supported in its rear end zone while thenose end of the guide underlies spring 25 and is therefore subject tothe tension of the spring, it will be understood that, in the absence ofthe yarn, the inner face of the nose portion of the bottom of the guidewill lie in contact with the needle 23, the bottom of the guide thusextending angular to the direction of length of the needle; and inasmuchas the rear end of the guide extends normal to the plane of the guidebottom, such position of the nose will also cause the rear end to extendangular to a transverse plane through the needle and to the face ofbushing element [8, so that the open rear end of the guide will providean open passage-way between the guide rear end and the bushing facethrough which the yarn can be introduced into the interior of the guide.By raising the nose end of the guide out of contact with the needle, theend of the yarn can be drawn lengthwise of the interior of the guide andthen carried over the end of the needle. When the guide is thenreleased, the nose will contact the inserted yarn thread with a yieldingpressure, produced by spring 25. As will be apparent, the yarn sopositioned relative to the guide can move through the guide withsufficient freedom to permit ready operation of the implement, thespring pressure serving to prevent the development of any material slackconditions between the nose of the guide and. the needle end due to thepressure of the spring 25 on the nose of the guide.

With the fabric backing A properly positioned relative to its supportingframe, thus placing the fabric openings a completely visible, with withthe openings of predetermined dimensions, and with a yarn strand leadingfrom the supply into and through guide 26, the needle is moved to itshoused position by drawing the handle 22 outwardly; the end zone of theyarn strand is then passed across the needle path by the operator andthis portion placed over the desired opening of the fabric backing atwhich the initial operation is to take place, a suii'icient length ofstrand being provided to permit formation of the loop as the handle 22is then shifted to its opposite position, the foot of the presser beingin contact with the fabric in proper position relative to the desiredopening. For the initial action, the strand end zone is held by theoperator, the needle advanced and passed through the opening by thecontinued advance of the needle, the end of such stroke of the needlebeing provided by contact .of the piston with the lower bushing l8. Thisprovides a loop on the reverse side of the fabric with the loop ofdesired length, and with the strand end projecting through the opening,together with the continuation of the opposite ply of the loop, suchcontinuation leading to the guide 26. parent, if the implement is thenshifted to an adjacent opening a, the yarn continuation will be carriedto the latter opening where it will be effective similar to the end zonestrand above referred to. The needle may be withdrawn from the filledopening by moving the handle 22 outwardly respecting the tubular bodywhich, of course, will leave the presser foot in contact with thefabric. If desired, the needle can be withdrawn from the filled openingby moving the implement in its entirety away from the fabric.

This cycle which involves the two opposing strokes of the needle takesplace for each of the openings (1' that is being included within theparticular design, the operator passing from one opening to an adjacentopening, longitudinally or laterally, as the conditions may require,thus gradually'developing the particular design portion which the yarnis designed to produce, it being the general practice to utilize yarnsof different colors for different sections and building up the desireddesign by a proper selection of different yarns and providing the yarnfeed with a particular yarn at the proper time.

For instance, the design may be made up of a succession of squares, thelength of a side of which equals a desired number of adjacent openingsa; each square, may in turn, be made up of a plurality of zonesextending lengthwiseor crosswise, as the case may be-with each zone ofseveral rows width and with the color scheme such that adjacent zoneswill be of constrasting colors. The adjacent squares may have thdirection of length of their zones at right angle to the first square,50 that alternate squares of the design have their direction of length,say longitudinally, while the intermediate squares will have thedirection of length of their zones extending laterally. Since any colorscheme may be used, a design of this type becomes very attractive, andcan be readily produced in the manner above described by simply shiftingthe As is apimplement from one opening to an adjacent While there isthis similarity between the op' posite sides, the side which forms theunder face of the rug has its loops lying close to the warp or weftthreads of the several openings, while the opposite or upper side of therug is of an extended loop formation. However, the loops of the oppositesides are distinguished through the fact that the plies of a loop ofgreater length are located entirely within an opening a, while the pliesforming the loop of the under face of the rug are located in differentopenings a, with the loop itself overlying a warp or weft thread, as thecase may be. This is due to the fact that the under loop is formed bythe shifting of the implement from one opening to the next, the loopbeing formed from one ply of the opening which has received the longerloop and, in turn, provides a ply of the loop to be formed, by shiftingthe implement to such adjacent opening, thus crossing the warp or weftthread which separates the two openings.

While the openings of the fabric backing are pre-formed and ofpractically fixed dimensions, both before and after the looping oeration, with the plies of the loops practically filling one dimensionof the opening, the arrangement may not produce the tightening effectthat is set up where the fabric is of b rla and in which there may be a.tendency of the threads to gri'w the plies; this difference is notmaterial in service, due to the fact that the under loops lie in closecontact with the floor or under surface and hence are not liable to bewithdrawn through the opening, it being obvious that the longer loop isso formed that although exposed on the floor, any pressure placedthereon would not act to cause movement of the plies through theopening; as a result. the rug becomes practically equal inserviceability to rugs formed with a burlap backing,

so far as integrity of the loops is concerned: the

fact that, however, there is no impairment of warp or weft threadsduring rod ction of the rug such as is more or less inherent with theburlap backing, renders a rug of the present invention of greaterse'rviceability than the burlap rug, due to the greater life of the rug,thus providing a definite advantage. Obviously, the fact that the loopsare based upon the uniform onenings of the fabric and therefore ofgreater regularity in arrangement, the design of the hooked rug may bemade more elaborate with assurance of a successful result, and thecompleted rug will present a far superior appearance. However, while therug of the present invention may have its loops less tightly held by thewarp and weft threads, although this does not materially affect theserviceability, as above explained, the present development offers theadditional advantage of the greater simplicity in production of the rugloops, and hence, greatly reducing the length of time required toproduce the rug, these being of positive advantage during the rugproduction and producing a rug of superior appearance value.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, it will be understood that changes and/ ormodifications therein may be found desirable or essential in meetingthevarious exigencies of service or the individual desires of the user;I therefore reserve the right to make any and all such changes ormodifications therein as may be found desirable or essential, insofar asthe same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, asexpressed in the accompanying claims, when broadly construed.

I claim:

1. In the production of hooked rugs, a loopinserting implementcomprising a tubular body carrying a reciprocatory needle and itsactuating means axially alined with the body axis, a yarn guidepivotally supported by the body and projecting therefrom in thedirection of loop-development movement of the needle, means on said yarnguide defining a partial housing for the needle when the needle is inretracted position, spring means operatively connected with the tubularbody and bearing against the yarn guide to normally urge the yarn guideabout its pivot whereupon the free end of the yarn guide contacts theneedle and a presser-foot formation supported by the body with thepresser-foot projecting normal to the needle travel path beyond the freeend of the yarn guide, said needle having its forward end concaved todefinitely locate the yarn thread relative to the needle during advanceof the latter, said implement being cooperative with a fabric backinghaving preformed openings of predetermined dimensions arranged insuccession longitudinally and transversely of the fabric for locatingthe loop position and controlling the loop insertion through the openingby the advance of the needle during its loopforming stroke.

2. An implement as in claim 1 characterized in that a pistonreciprocates within the body in a fixed path of predetermined lengthcontrolled by the body, the needle being carried by and movable with thepiston, the length of a piston stroke being such as to move the free endof the needle between positions on opposite sides of the presser foot.

3. An implement as in claim 1 characterized in that the yarn guide isU-shaped in cross section and open-ended for the free introduction ofthe yarn through one end zone and discharge through the opposite endzone, said guide being symmetrically positioned relative to the needleaxis to permit the needle to have its movements within and lengthwise ofthe guide.

4. An implement as in claim 1 characterized in that the yarn guide isU-shaped in cross section and open-ended for the free introduction ofthe yarn through one end zone and discharge through the opposite endzone, said guide being symmetrically positioned relative to the needleaxis to permit the needle to have its movements within and lengthwise ofthe guide, said guide having its inner end zone provided with outwardlyprojecting pins constituting a pivotal mounting for the guide relativeto the axis of the implement.

5. An implement as in claim 1 characterized in that the yarn guide isU-shaped in cross section and open-ended for the free introduction ofthe yarn through one end zone and discharge through the opposite endzone, said guide being symmetrically positioned relative to the needleaxis to permit the needle to have its movements within and lengthwise ofthe guide, said guide having the rear end zone of its side wallsenlarged in the plane of such walls, with the outer face of each of suchwalls carrying an outwardly projecting pin having the pin axisintersecting the axis of the implement and its needle with the pinsconstitute a pivot for the guide to permit swinging action of the guiderelative to the needle path.

6. An implement as in claim 1 characterized in that the presser foot isformed of wire, bent to provide a generally U-shaped formation in thedirection of length of the presser foot, with the opposite sides fixedlycarried by the body of the implement to locate such sides approximatelyparallel to the needle, with the opposite end of the U-shaped formationbent laterally in the direction of the guide to constitute means forengagement with the work.

ALFRED G. GARVIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 342,569 Blake May 25, 1886522,556 Connell July 3, 1894 889,922 Garrett June 9, 1908 1,937,257 VanDyke Nov. 28, 1933 2,097,380 Morgan Oct. 26, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 8,414 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1913

